Penguins not buying Bruins’ underdog talk

PITTSBURGH — The “B” on the Bruins’ jerseys should stand for “Boucher,” because the Bruins are taking a Guy Boucher-like approach to the Eastern Conference finals against the Penguins.

Two years ago, the then-Lightning coach played the underdog card strongly against the Bruins, saying that the Lightning would be hard-pressed to “solve” the “enigma” that was Tim Thomas. Now, it’s the Bruins who are volunteering just what an uphill climb they face, with Brad Marchand telling reporters Wednesday that the Bruins are “in over our heads” vs. the offensively loaded Penguins.

The Penguins aren’t buying it.

“I wouldn’t read into that too much at this point,” Sidney Crosbysaid after Thursday’s practice. “It doesn’t really matter who’s favored or who’s not. Two pretty good hockey teams who have gotten to this point and want the same thing, so all the other stuff doesn’t really matter.”

While the Penguins don’t have a problem with being labeled as favorites, they can appreciate that a team labeling itself the underdog is simply a means of trying to gain an us-against-the-world mentality.

“I think we’re pretty focused on just preparing ourselves,” Brooks Orpik said. “If that motivates them, then great for them. I think we have plenty of ways to motivate ourselves in here. Each team can motivate themselves however they want. That’s out of our control.”